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Around SBN: Knicks Beat Lakers With Familiar Strategy

Brief Notes on Rudy and Darius

Spain has advanced to the finals of the Olympics over Lithuania.  Rudy had a fine, fine third quarter and really led the charge that put Spain over the top.  A couple of brief observations:

--I mentioned this early on but I'll say it again:  I love how quickly Rudy decides to shoot and then just does it.  The lack of hesitation on his shot will serve him plenty well in the NBA.

--At heart Rudy has the temperment to be a complementary player.  He doesn't seem like the kind of guy to go out and demand shots or dominate the ball.  The thing I like about him, though, is that when you need him, he's there.  It's fairly rare to see a guy with the capability to light up a game who doesn't insist upon doing it in inappropriate moments.

OCBlazerFan has noted here that Darius Miles has signed a contract with the Boston Celtics, as reported at RealGM.   The way I understand it so far, this is a non-guaranteed contract.  That means it isn't worth the paper it's printed on yet.  It's basically an assurance that Darius will go to training camp with the Celtics and not anybody else.  We will need to see the actual terms of the contract to figure out more.  We will try to gather more information.   Blazer fans don't need to fret until he makes the opening night roster.

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

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So basically

He is Luke Jackson but for the Blazers.

by Replacement Level Poster on Aug 22, 2008 2:10 PM PDT reply actions  

err

Same situation as Luke Jackson but for the Celtics.

by Replacement Level Poster on Aug 22, 2008 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions  

If other teams are interested in Miles,

couldn’t we have traded him, thereby dumping his salary and bad attitude while possibly acquiring something good in return?

--

by CaptainSexyJacob on Aug 22, 2008 2:25 PM PDT reply actions  

(Medically) Retired players can't be traded

Odenied: Asked whether he noticed Oden favoring his right knee, Frye dismissed it entirely. "He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors."

by Norsktroll on Aug 22, 2008 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions  

And

If Capt. Sexy Jacob means BEFORE he was medically retired, no one would take a chance on Miles with his contract. Right now a team only needs to pay him a little bit and see how he does in training camp, not 9 million bucks a year.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Aug 22, 2008 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions  

10 cents on da dollar

"He doesn't let grass grow under his feet when there are points to be had." - Dave

by BlueBooYay on Aug 22, 2008 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions  

But that's another interesting question

Would he have to pass a physical examination by another independent doctor (e.g. agreed upon by the Celtics, the league and the players association) before being reinstated? Is there such a thing as a professional license for NBA players that includes fulfilling certain minimal medical requirements? I know this exists in other sports (e.g. race car driving, soccer in certain countries).

Or could the insurance company now say no, we don’t insure his (new and / or old) salary, like they e.g. did with Luol Deng’s back problems?

Odenied: Asked whether he noticed Oden favoring his right knee, Frye dismissed it entirely. "He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors."

by Norsktroll on Aug 23, 2008 12:57 AM PDT up reply actions  

Ainge is pulling a stunt

Danny Ainge wants to knock 8 figures off our salary cap for next summer and have PA pay Miles salary. He’ll play Darius his 10 games out of spite, even to the detriment of the Celtics.

Either it’s personal or strategy, Darius Miles is being used as a tool.

by dvcastle on Aug 22, 2008 2:32 PM PDT reply actions  

Unfortunately for Ainge

If he does this just out of spite to screw Portland, then he’ll be the one who is viewed as a tool by other GMs in the business. Short-term gain, long term loss. If this is an earnest attempt (e.g. Ainge thinks that Miles still has a long and healthy future ahead of him), then that’s one thing, but if Ainge cuts him after the 10 games are played or at the end of the season, then he’ll start getting the cold shoulder from other GMs.

by DonkeyShins on Aug 22, 2008 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions  

And if THAT were it, wouldn't someone in the West have done it first?

And for more money?

I just don’t think that’s it.
Especially since the Celtics’ window will be closing just as we’re hitting our prime.
They’d be better off trying to jam the Sixers and Pistons and Cavs and Magic.

=(_8c(|)

by QualityPie on Aug 22, 2008 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions  

Yes, but Ainge

has a burning hatred for the Blazers because we got Oden and Roy. He blew it on Roy and felt he was entitled to Oden. Who exactly do you think was Simmons mysterious East Coast GM blabbering about a red dot on Oden’s knee? Clearly It was Ainge. Lord knows Ainge has a nasty streak. I think he just hates Pritchard for being the kind of “Golden Gut” who can scope out talent and he can’t. Since his Frankenstein team winning the championship brought him no joy (maybe cause he knew he was helped by the commish during the season ie refs) perhaps doing evil will. I couldn’t believe his stone face while the team he put together with his “Brilliance” won the championship in Beantown. Celtics are blowing the Lakers off the court the camera cuts to a shot of Ainge and….nothing….total stone face. Guy almost looked sad. You better believe we will be scraping Pritchard off the ceiling of the Rose Garden when the Blazers win theirs!

He's Coming! Oden Slayer of Giants

by Idog1976 on Aug 22, 2008 7:33 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

I COULD BE WRONG

But I believe, that before the money goes back on our cap, it gets reviewed and arbitrated to see if the Blazers did anything incorrectly when filing for medical retirement and that it isn’t AUTOMATICALLY put back on our cap.

Since we did everything right and took all the steps necessary, I’m not worried about it.

Plus, doesn’t it take two years for the money to be put back on retroactively? I’m not sure about that either but I know the timeframe Miles has to play in is over two seasons. Perhaps we’ll have gone and used the cap space already by then.

Either way, no matter what happens, we’ll be fine. I wish the best for Miles and I hope he is able to play… or find happiness in other pursuits. Career ending injuries are a horrible thing and I do not wish them for anyone. I’d truly be very happy for Miles if he is the first player to EVER come back from a injury deemed career ending.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Aug 22, 2008 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions  

+ a thousand!

Unless the Blazers maliciously and magically got an independent doctor to sign off on his injury being career ending Darius is a mega MONSTER tool. I mean wth Darius? You are adding peanuts to your VAST store of cash that you DON’T EVEN HAVE TO EARN!!! You just sit there eating your ice cream and rake in your MILLIONS! But OH NO, YOU GOTTA SIGN WITH “THE BITER” JUST TO BE A PUNK THORN IN OUR SIDE! Man I’m angry at Darius I mean wth? The guy is being paid for what 4 years of basketball HE DIDN"T EVEN PLAY! At a salary level he never deserved in the first place! Man what a jerk!

He's Coming! Oden Slayer of Giants

by Idog1976 on Aug 22, 2008 7:36 PM PDT up reply actions  

Actually, I think the guy just wants to continue his career...

"TominHawaii's real name is Hubert and he's a rancher in Burns."

by timbo on Aug 22, 2008 8:41 PM PDT up reply actions  

Seriously

if he was so interested in continuing his career why didn’t he work hard during his rehab. Even Zach Randolph was known to have worked extremely hard at his rehab as did Amare Stoudamire and Greg Oden. He is clearly doing it either A) for the money, which I hope is the case Or B) to mess with the Blazers. Pardon my extreme rage but this has been annoying me for months. Mostly it is Ainge’s tricky nastiness that bothers me. You can tell from what Mike Barret said that Ainge is out to prove a point.

He's Coming! Oden Slayer of Giants

by Idog1976 on Aug 22, 2008 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions  

Ainge has shown...

that he doesn’t really know what he’s doing sometimes. I think he’s got a bit of an ego that gets in the way of sound judgement. Regardless if he makes the team, I would still worry about whether Darius would rack up even more suspensions. Winning basketball is all about chemistry – I don’t see any way that this doesn’t backfire.

by wilbjammin on Aug 22, 2008 2:54 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

One can only hope

those two deserve deck chairs on the Titanic blunder they are creating together.

He's Coming! Oden Slayer of Giants

by Idog1976 on Aug 22, 2008 7:38 PM PDT up reply actions  

Is there any minimum number of minutes he needs to play?

Or would it be sufficient to sub him in for less than 1 minute each for 10 games that could be far apart to bring him back on our cap?

Well I guess it doesn’t matter. If he is healthy and can contribute he will easily reach 10 games even if he is sitting at the end of the bench. If not, he won’t make it trough the pre-season in Boston, and thus probably nowhere in the NBA.

I wish him all the best as a player, only that we have to take his whole old salary back on our cap is bugging.

Odenied: Asked whether he noticed Oden favoring his right knee, Frye dismissed it entirely. "He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors."

by Norsktroll on Aug 22, 2008 3:03 PM PDT reply actions  

What is Darius smoking?

Didn’t the doctor tell him if he injures his knee again he will need a full knee replacement? What is he smoking???? oh wait I know.

by Escrote on Aug 22, 2008 3:32 PM PDT reply actions  

Everyone a complementary player in Spain?

Perhaps that is how they play basketball in Spain? I do not see anyone dominated the ball on Spain… I actually agree with you 100%, but it’s interesting that everyone on Spain plays like a complementary player. Gasol is a partial exception, but he’s been criticized for not demanding more of an influence on the game.

by PoliSam on Aug 22, 2008 3:44 PM PDT reply actions  

No, this was a Rudy thread too

And I, myself, used the word “complementary”. I’m sure that’s what PoliSam was responding to.

—Dave

by Dave on Aug 22, 2008 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions  

This doesn't really go with your thought

but no one else is talkng about Rudy in this thread so:

The block on the lay up where they called a foul and the drive to the middle where he “dunked it” off the back board after he got bumped from behind were plays that very few guys could pull off. He is playing like a complimentary player for his national team in order to win a gold medal for his team. Let’s hope he can accept a lesser role behind Brandon and contribute when called upon or fit in with him because this guy is special.

PTB Liberation Day - 2/10/04

by tssbro on Aug 23, 2008 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions  

Let me clarify...

I have been trying to keep my expectations low but he keeps raising them the more I see him.

PTB Liberation Day - 2/10/04

by tssbro on Aug 23, 2008 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions  

Want more Rudy? Here we go.

If that guy doesn’t fight for his baskets and boards I don’t know who does.

Odenied: Asked whether he noticed Oden favoring his right knee, Frye dismissed it entirely. "He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors."

by Norsktroll on Aug 23, 2008 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions  

Awesome Photo! Rudy!

I can’t wait! I can’t wait! I can’t wait!

I wanna see this Spanish Stud in a Blazer Jersey running the floor – NOW!

LMA>LA!
LMA's reign as "LaMonster of the Low Post" has just begun!

by LaMarvelous on Aug 23, 2008 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions  

Nice!!

PTB Liberation Day - 2/10/04

by tssbro on Aug 24, 2008 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions  

FYI

If you have DirecTV, they are showing all Olympic games in HD on Channel 754 LIVE. Meaning, since NBC plans on showing the USA/Spain game on tape delay at 2:30AM PST instead of the Live time of 11:30PST, you can catch the game on channel 754.

by damir on Aug 22, 2008 4:13 PM PDT reply actions  

What...?!

Even the Gold game is tape delayed, even though it’s in the middle of the night?! And for the much WORSE time of 2:30am, not 11:30PM when it should be?

Good lord that is ridiculous. TAPE DELAYS HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING USED IN THIS MODERN INTERNET AGE.

Someone is going on my murder list.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Aug 22, 2008 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions  

I'm pretty sure

You can catch it on DirecTV 754 LIVE, and on NBColympics.com LIVE

by damir on Aug 22, 2008 5:48 PM PDT up reply actions  

unreal

that they are tape delaying the game on the west coast, from 11:30 PM to 2:30 AM. Someone at NBC is smoking something with Darius, just unreal.

There is probably no more terrible instance of enlightenment than the one in which you discover your father is a man — with human flesh.
Paul Muad'Dib - Dune (Frank Herbert)

My Translation: My Dad is a dude just like me, and my sons are dudes like me also. I love that.
Season Tix: Section 315

by johnv59 on Aug 22, 2008 7:32 PM PDT up reply actions  

I cant imagin that they would do that...

Tape delay a game that is on live at 11:30 until 2:30. It is live at 2:30 am eastern, that would be 11:30 in Oregon, I am SURE that is when they are showing it….it HAS to be. anyone have a link that could answer this?

by MattyDread on Aug 22, 2008 6:43 PM PDT up reply actions  

Lets do some math

Boston has 13 guaranteed contracts, which leaves only 2 left for the season. They have not signed PJ Brown or Cassel yet and they just signed 2nd rd pick Bill Walker to a contract, but probably not a guaranteed, as he was a 2nd rd pick (details are still coming out on the signing.) Which leaves us with our dearly departed ex-player Miles.

So we have 2 FAs that were pretty productive in the finals last year, a 2nd rd pick who was being looked at as a possibly lotty/probable 1st rnder until he hurt, ironically, his knee and oh yeah plays SF as well.

Or Miles?

Basically pick 2

PJ Brown
Cassell
Walker
Miles

Easy choice.

by SpyderRyder on Aug 22, 2008 4:26 PM PDT reply actions  

Cassell's done.

He was a liability in the playoffs, he got a third ring (13 years after the previous one),
he’s right where Gary Payton was after the Heat won two years ago.

And PJ’s, like, 38. Actual age, not an exaggeration. AND he just got a ring.

I’d be very surprised if either of them felt like coming back.

=(_8c(|)

by QualityPie on Aug 22, 2008 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

A million bucks

Is a million bucks. If they can, they’ll come back I bet.

D. Miles minimum salary is a million bucks and for him to play 10 games his contract will be guaranteed, so I’m not sure if their minimum salaries are more than that since they’re waaaaay veterans and Miles is only a medium veteran.

Cassell ain’t Cassell no more, but he played quite a bit for them and they don’t really have a backup PG. Or did they make a deal for one?

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Aug 22, 2008 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions  

if PJ and Sam

want to and can play this year that leaves 0 roster spots open for Miles

by southern oregon on Aug 22, 2008 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions  

What I doubt is that the Celtics want those two back, a year older.

’Specially Sam.
He turned out to be a bit of a chemistry bomb.

Peej I think is more inclined to just retire.
He’s had a bangin’ couple of decades.
Nothing left to play for but another ring, and an injury.

I also think it’s no coincidence neither of those two have re-upped yet, nor is there much talk going on.

=(_8c(|)

by QualityPie on Aug 22, 2008 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions  

be worried...

neither cassell or pj will be coming back. house and pruitt will back up rondo, and pj’s minutes will be split between o’bryant, davis, and powe.

according to team sources, miles had two good workouts with the c’s, the first being suprisingly impressive. if he can play, and indication points towards that being the case, he will certainly have a spot on the team.

by radja9697 on Aug 22, 2008 7:16 PM PDT reply actions  

I just hope

we don’t see video on ESPN of Miles blowing out his knee in game 4 of his attempted comback…. Does this remind anyone of Dennis Dixon?

There is probably no more terrible instance of enlightenment than the one in which you discover your father is a man — with human flesh.
Paul Muad'Dib - Dune (Frank Herbert)

My Translation: My Dad is a dude just like me, and my sons are dudes like me also. I love that.
Season Tix: Section 315

by johnv59 on Aug 22, 2008 7:36 PM PDT up reply actions  

Paul Allen has the money to pay Darius and the team doesn't really need to sign

another player. So having the cap space is really just a bonus for the Blazers, not the end of the world at all. Only Darius and the Celtics can come out as the losers in this. Darius will never replace James Poser and may even be a team cancer. He will also be hurting himself by having to have knee replacement surgery in 5 years. Trading a few more years in the NBA spot light for his health. Hope he enjoys having the knee of a 90 year old.

by BRoyInThe4th on Aug 22, 2008 9:32 PM PDT reply actions   1 recs

All very valid points

and most likely even correct. I really lost it earlier and now respective is returning sorry all.

He's Coming! Oden Slayer of Giants

by Idog1976 on Aug 22, 2008 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

Not if, Only When

Allen may have money, but the bottom line is that once the paperwork was filed, the insurance company had to pay Miles salary – not Allen. Which is one thing some forget. Do any of you think that the insurance company which is on the hook for Miles salary would remotely pay it if the Blazers had not done everything according to the book? Not a chance. You can bet that their doctors and adjusters took a very hard look at this situation as well.

As far as it not being that big a deal, keep in mind that we have a young team, those salaries are going to start rising, and we need the money and the cap space to keep this team together, as well as make any changes downstream. $9 million represents 15
% of the total amount that we can spend on salaries. So it is a big deal. Some of you act as if Allen is a bottomless money pit.

Having said this, don’t all of you find it somewhat interesting that Miles with his career ending injury would be picked up by Boston, whereas Livingston out of San Diego – who was not designated as having a career ending injury – was not. Boston needs as much help at guard, after all, as they do SF.

In the end, however, where Ainge may well get burned is if Miles blows his knee out again. Ainge cannot get medical clearance for Miles, as no doctor will sign off on him. Miles may, in his mind, be willing to play against the advice of doctors, but Ainge , by letting him play, is enabling him to do so. The question is not if he will reinjure that knee, after all, it is only when.

by Eben Calder on Aug 23, 2008 6:45 AM PDT reply actions   1 recs

Great point Eben in regards to Livingston

I would argue they need the most help at guard especially since Ray Allen and his ankles are a year older. I think it’s Ainge’s attempt at revenge.

He's Coming! Oden Slayer of Giants

by Idog1976 on Aug 23, 2008 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions  

Good blog post on Clips Nation about the status of Livingston and where he might end up

http://www.clipsnation.com/2008/8/21/598496/so-what-is-going-on-with-s

By the way, he has been cleared for light scrimmages like Oden. The Clippers just didn’t want to risk bringing him back for the QO since he was a very high draft pick. I agree that he should be more likely to find a (longer-term) place in the league again than Darius.

Odenied: Asked whether he noticed Oden favoring his right knee, Frye dismissed it entirely. "He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors."

by Norsktroll on Aug 23, 2008 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions  

A few things

1. Livingston’s a PG, they have better players to back up Rondo than they have to back up SF. Their need is SF. They also need a a long term backup/replacement to Ray Allen, but Livingston is not the answer to that problem.
2. I don’t know about the insurance terms, but it is very possible that the insurance pays his Portland salary now even if he plays for another team. If so, Paul Allen is not on the hook for his salary whether he plays for Boston or not.
3. The cap space to keep the team together is completely unaffected by what happens with Darius. We will have enough space to get 1 or two good players next summer, even if Darius’ salary is on the books. The following year, when we need money to start paying guys like Roy and Aldridge more, he’ll be off the books.

So, the impact on our salary cap situation if Darius plays is as follows:
1. This year, we’ll be further over the cap than we would have been.
2. We can’t sign a max free agent next summer, but we can still retain Martell or Channing AND get a really good free agent (for more than MLE). If Darius were off the books, we could sign a max free agent or a couple of really good ones.

That’s it. If there were a max free agent that fit our team coming available, this might be a big deal. But there isn’t anyone out there we want, so it really isn’t.

Other people don't have as much practice at being wrong as I do -- HT, timbo

by jscot on Aug 23, 2008 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions  

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